Security tag deactivation system

Abstract

A method for tracking deactivation of security devices being associated with items to be sold, each of the items being associated with a tracking identifier. The method includes determining a number of security tag deactivations which should occur using select ones of the identifiers and determining a number of actual security tag deactivations which occurred. The method then compares the number of actual security tag deactivations to the number of security tag deactivations which should have occurred, and generates an output when the comparing results in an inconsistency therebetween.

We claim:  
     
       1. A system for tracking deactivation of security devices being associated with items to be sold, said system comprising: 
       an item logging device for entering identification data for each of said items to be sold;  
       a deactivation device for deactivating said security devices; and,  
       database means for storing data indicative of which of a plurality of items should or should not include at least one of said security devices to be deactivated by said deactivation device;  
       wherein said deactivation device is selectively operable automatically in response to operation of said item logging device and said stored data.  
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein, when said item logging device identifies data, operation of said deactivation device is responsive to a state of said data stored in said database means. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein said state of said data stored in said database means is indicative of whether an item associated with said state should include at least one security device to be deactivated. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said item logging device is a POS terminal, and said deactivation device uses degaussing to deactivate a magnetic security device or an RF signal to resonate a security device. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising means for determining an expected number of operations by said deactivating device responsively to said data logging device and said database. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , further comprising means for at least temporarily storing data being indicative of a transaction where a number of operations of said deactivating device differs from said expected number.